Riverside expands porphyry copper targets at Ariel

Executive Summary

• Riverside Resources Inc. released early 2026 exploration results from its 100%-owned Ariel copper project in Sonora, Mexico, highlighting high-grade silver and lead values in veins that serve as indicators for the underlying porphyry copper target.
• The company has consolidated the Ariel and adjacent Maria Luisa concessions into a single, fully permitted, drill-ready district-scale target area, aiming to de-risk the project for potential partnering or immediate drilling.
• Geochemical sampling identified significant high-grade base metals, including up to 5.4% Pb and 320 g/t Ag, alongside spectral mineral analysis and geophysical data integration to prioritize drill collars within the Arizona-Sonora copper mining belt.

Key Details

• Project Location & Status: 100%-owned Ariel copper project in Sonora, Mexico; located ~18 km east-southeast of the La Caridad copper mining complex; fully permitted and drill-ready.
• Consolidation: Consolidation of the Ariel property with the adjacent Maria Luisa concessions into a single 1,640-hectare (16 sq km) footprint across five titled concessions.
• High-Grade Sampling Results (Maria Luisa Area):
  • Silver (Ag) values up to >10 oz/t (approx. 320 g/t).
  • Lead (Pb) values up to 5.4%.
  • Gold (Au) anomalies up to 0.4 g/t.
  • Samples taken via 0.5m to 1.5m chip channel cuts perpendicular to parallel veining.
• Geological Context:
  • Age dating of host rocks at Ariel is similar to La Caridad and Cananea mine host rocks (Late Cretaceous volcanic rocks intruded by Paleocene ~57 million-year-old porphyritic intrusions).
  • Targets include a near-surface porphyry copper target and an epithermal target interpreted as the upper portion of a porphyry system.
• Exploration Methodology:
  • Application of spectral mineral analysis (near-infrared/short-wave infrared) to map alteration minerals (advanced argillic assemblages, breccia-related styles).
  • Integration of mapping, alteration interpretation, and regional geophysical data to prioritize drill collars.
  • Use of portable geochemical tools (XRF) and spectral scanning to distinguish vein and alteration assemblages.
• QA/QC Protocols:
  • Samples analyzed by ACT Labs (Zacatecas, Mexico) using gold fire assay and ICP-MS for silver, base metals, and pathfinders.
  • Standards and blanks inserted every 20 samples; duplicates analyzed every 20 samples.
  • Historical samples analyzed by Bureau Veritas using similar procedures.
• Qualified Person: Freeman Smith, PGeo, Vice-President of Exploration for Riverside Resources (non-independent).
• Strategic Outlook: Company is seeking partnerships for the project but retains the option to drill given the high-quality district potential and existing partnerships within the broader Riverside portfolio.

Notable Quotes

• "Riverside early 2026 field program at the Ariel and Maria Luisa mineral concessions now consolidated into a single, fully permitted drill-ready project area found high-grade precious and base metals typical of the major copper mines in the region and now the targets at Ariel continue to improve as the company derisks the project with systematic fieldwork to sharpen targeting and prepare it for partnering and immediate drilling." — John-Mark Staude, CEO
• "The combination of geologic mapping, geochemistry, alteration mineral studies and integrated geophysics is providing stronger vectors into the most prospective zones. Ariel remains a compelling, undrilled copper district target in a premier belt, with excellent access, safety and infrastructure." — John-Mark Staude, CEO